The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-08-13

ten in answer to the inquiries of an intelli-
gent lady, residing in Southern Texas. Mrs.
Billings is the wife of our Texas Missionary,
Rev. JAMES BILLINGS, and is herself an ac-
ceptable preacher. ED.
DEAR FRIEND:-You ask in regard to
our belief upon various points as Univer-
salists. You desire information respect
ing our ideas Of the "Holy Spirit" You
do not obtain from the papers I have
sent you any definite knowledge as to
our views upon this subject. You wish
10 know, il "as denomination we do not
recognize the coming of the Holy Spirit
on the day of pentecost," in fulfillment
of Ohrist's promise that he would send
the Comforter after his departure. You
also ask about our belief in repentance
after death, etc.
will endeavor to answer your inquiries
to the best of my ability. will presume
that you know that we believe in ONE
GOD, the Maker, Preserver, and Ruler Of
all things; who is the Father of all the
human family. We also believe in one
divinel y. gifted Master, Jesus Christ, who
was sent into the world to bring saliva
ton to humsnity,-(notf from future tor
ment) but from sin. Do you remember
what little Zaccheus said to the Master,
when he called him down from the tree
which he had climbed, being of such
small stature, in order to see Jesus as
he passed by? Do you recall how-when
he had supped with him in his own home,
and when he, convinced by the teach
ings of the Master, said :-"Lord, the
half that have give to the poor; and if
I have wronged any man, restore
to him fourfold?" That was Salvation"
positive, active salvation. Then you
recollect the beautiful promise of Christ
about sending the Comforter" to his dis
ciples if he himself went away. 81 will
send you the Comforter, even the Spirit
of Truth" Now, dear friend, don't you
see that the Spirit OF Truth is an emana-
ton from and OF the Great Divine Spirit,
the God over all? Not q person-not a
tangible being, but spiritual power and
moving force.
"Cloven tongues of fireP' Were they
not emblematic of the power, the light
and warmth of the preaching of that gos-
pei of love which Jesus came to teach,
which he taught his disciples and through
them to the world. These were divine
manifestations on the day of pentecost.
Please understand in reference to the
personality of the triune Godhead, that
the eighteen verses, treating OF the "Lo-
gos" or "Word" in the first part OF the
first chapter of st. Johns gospel, are con-
sidered by many learned scholars to be in
terpolated; that they did not exist in the
earliest manuscripts OF this books The
idea of trinity of Gods was engrafted
upon pure Christianity by pagan converts
among whom were two distinguished per-
sons, Roman emperor, Constantine,
and his mother the empress, Helena; she,
according to history, being a woman Of
more than the average intellect for those
times.
Thus heather mythology is RESPONSE
BILE for this doctrine of the Trinity, whic b
has been retained to this day as one Of
the dogmas in the credal systems of the
so-called "orthodox" religious sects OF
Christianity. Now, the question may
arise, why did not God protect his own
from any possible chance of mistake or
error? We might ask with equal pertin-
ence, why did he not so order the mis-
sion OF Christ and his apostles, that they
might have escaped martyrdom, and yet
have accomplished their work for hu-
manity? Great truths and reformations
in all times, have been born through trib-
ulation, the higher and more important
the harder the ordeal through which
they must pass, before becoming accept
ed and established.
Respecting the subject of triune de-
ity has it never occurred to you, that in
all the Old Testament this idea is never
introduced, but the contrary 81 the
Lord am one God, and there is none else
beside me-" This is the emphatic state
ment of the Bible, In contradistinction to
the heather ideas of Goods many" and
"Lords many" that prevailed among
the surrounding nations, whose idolatry
the chosen people were warned not to ac-
cept or practice. To this day, you will
never find an Israelite who believes in
the three-in-one Godhead. No, my dear
friend, this, as we believe, erroneous doc
trine respecting the God of all the uni
verse, is one of the relics of psgsnism
that will, we trust be discarded from the
creeds of the future. Even now, it finds
no place in large class of our best
thinking minds. I will enclose in this,
our simple creed, which, comprising only
three articles, we think is all-sufficient for
the best incentives to, and for the rule OF
a Christian life.
A few words here upon the subject of
future punishment, future probation,
and future repentance. First, endless
suffering, is not, and cannot be punish
ment. in the proper sense of the term;
for the latter, to be what its name i'm
plies. is intended to reform the guilty.
This can never be done so long as it is
continuous. II punishment is made end
less it is degraded into revenge.
All souls must eventually progress
from the lower to the higher. II very
ainfnl and dahaaad when they laRYa this